Data processing system having power capping function in response to output state of power supply module

ABSTRACT

A data processing system includes a plurality of power supply modules each having a comparing unit for comparing an output-current value supplied to a computer with a threshold value, the plurality of power supply modules continue the comparison when the output-current value is equal to or less than the threshold value and outputs an output-current excess signal to a plurality of server blades when the output-current value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and the plurality of server blades control respectively power consumptions of the server blades to make a power consumption value of the server blades to an equal to or less than a predetermined value on a power source non-redundancy.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

Japan Priority Application 2010-136740, filed Jun. 16, 2010 includingthe specification, drawings, claims and abstract, is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety. This application is a Continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/072,283, filed Mar. 25, 2011, incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a data processing system for monitoringan output state of power supply modules to implement a power capping fora data processing device in response to the output state.

A blade server is provided with a plurality of server blades and amid-plane, inside a single chassis, for electrically connecting with aplurality of power supply modules, a plurality of I/O modules, aplurality of fan modules and a plurality of management modules. Theplurality of power supply modules receive a power from either one ormore circuits of power equipment.

A power redundancy technique is proposed as a technique having been usedin the data processing device such as the server blade etc. The powerredundancy technique includes a redundancy for either an input powersource (hereinafter, input power source redundancy) or a power supplymodule (hereinafter, power supply module redundancy).

The input power source or power supply module redundancy means atechnique for the security of continuously operating the data processingdevice in a condition where the input power source or power supplymodule is redundant (hereinafter, on power-source redundancy) and is notredundant (hereinafter, on power-source non-redundancy).

The input power source redundancy is provided with m circuits (m≧2) ofthe input power source to secure the continuous operation of the dataprocessing device by a supply power only of the power supply module,received from the input power source of the rest of (m−1) circuits, eventhough the supply from the input power source on one circuit isshutdown. The power supply module redundancy is provided with N units(N≧2) of power supply module to secure the continuous operation of thedata processing device by a supply power only from normal (N−1) units ofpower supply modules, even though the supply from one power source isshutdown.

In the past, the power supply modules to be mounted on the chassis inthe blade server have been used such that their rating output wattage isall equivalent. In consequence, in the case where the input power sourcehas two circuits in the input power source redundancy and totalfour-power supply module configuration includes two power supply modulesconnected per one circuit for each of the input source, for example, thepower consumption of the server blade is always capped as power equal toor less than the amount of two power supply modules on the power-sourceredundancy (when the two input power source circuits are normal) to beable to operate continuously the data processing device by the inputpower source of normally supplied one circuit and the two power supplymodules receiving the normally supplied power even on the power sourcenon-redundancy (on a power supply shutdown from one circuit of theinput-power source).

However, in this system, a summation of the supply power from powersupply modules connected with the input power source in one circuitrequires a power equal to or greater than a power consumption of theserver blades. For this reason, there is a problem that the cost ofpower supply module is increased.

As means to solve the above-mentioned problem, JP-A-2009-267880 has beenknown as a system of power-source redundancy configuration providing Nsets of power source units (corresponding to the power supply module inthe server blade), in which the maximum power consumption of dataprocessing device is allowed to exceed the supply power from (N−1) setsof power source units in a condition where the power source unit isredundant normally (on power-source unit redundancy); a clock frequencyof the data processing device is lowered in a condition where anabnormality occurs in the power source unit to turn the power sourceunit into a non-redundancy (on power-source unit non-redundancy) to makethe power consumption of data processing device to (N−1)/N. By usingthis system, it is unnecessary to be newly provided with the powersupply module of high cost and high output even against the increase ofpower consumption of the data processing device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, the JP-A-2009-267880 discloses that the power consumption iscapped on the basis of the presence or absence of failure orinterruption in the power supply module, but the power consumption isnot capped on the basis the excess or deficiency of the supply power.For this reason, there arises a problem that the lowering of operatingfrequency (performance, in other words) in the blade server occurs dueto the capping of power consumption, even in the case where the powerfeeding can be implemented by the normally operated power supply modulealone.

The object of the invention is realized by the following configuration.A blade server is provided with a plurality of power supply modules andone or more server blades therein. The plurality of power supply modulesreceive power supplies of AC or DC from one or more circuits ofpower-source equipment (hereinafter, referred to as an input powersource). The power supply modules respectively are provided with currentmonitor units for acquiring output current values of the power supplymodules, a threshold value hold unit for setting and holding thresholddata of the output current value, a comparing unit for comparing theacquired output current value with the threshold value of the outputcurrent value which was set in advance, and a signal notification unitfor asserting an output current excess notification signal when theoutput current value exceeds the threshold value. The server blade isprovided with a power-saving control unit for capping (power capping)the power consumption of the server blade by controlling the frequency,voltage, etc. of a processor and is connected electrically with theoutput current excess notification signal of the power supply module.The output current excess notification signal is asserted to lower thepower consumption of the server blade by the power-saving control unitand cap the output current of the power supply module to an equal to orless than the threshold value which was set in advance.

According to the invention, it is possible to judge a necessity forimplementing the power capping control on the basis of the dataindicating the excess or deficiency of the supply power. In consequence,the power capping is not implemented when the normally operated powersupply module and input power source can supply a power on either thefailure of one or a plurality of power supply modules and either theinput power source shutdown of one or plural input power sources. Thepower capping is implemented when the power feeding is short by onlyusing the normally operated power supply module and the input powersource.

The other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the embodiments of theinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram representing a dataprocessing system;

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram representing an inside of a currentmonitor;

FIG. 3 is a diagram representing a variation of supply power and powerconsumption;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram representing an inside of a managementmodule;

FIG. 5 is a diagram representing an example of power table;

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of the management module;

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart of the current monitor and a power-savingcontrol unit; and

FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram representing the dataprocessing system using a related art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a data processing systemapplying the invention. A chassis 100 is provided with power supplymodules 110, 120, 130, 140, a management module 150, a mid-plane 154,server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 and other modules 155, 157 therein(hereinafter, these are referred to as a module or modules). The chassis100 also is provided with two-circuit input power sources 101, 102outside thereof.

In addition, a power capping control system of the invention isapplicable to the system configuration configured such that the powersupply module is two units or more, the server blade is one unit ormore, the management module is one unit or more (in this regard, it isrequired to control main management modules and standby managementmodules when there are plural management modules), the other module ismore than zero unit, and the input-power source is one circuit or more.

The power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 are provided with currentmonitors 111, 121, 131, 141, controllers 114, 124, 134, 144,power-source supply lines 112, 122, 132, 142 and output-current excessnotification signals 113, 123, 133, 143, respectively. The power supplymodule receives powers from two input power sources 101, 102 outside thechassis 100 to convert to utilizable voltages to the respective modulesinside the chassis 100 and output a current. In addition, a maximumcurrent value is defined as a rating output which can be supplied stablywithout having a smoking, ignition, failure and output voltage drop etc.

The controllers 114, 124, 134, 144 hold identification data of therespective power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140, respectively. Here,the identification data of power supply modules is used for identifyinga difference of specifications such as the type of power supply modules,the rating output and the type (for example, difference of voltage andAC or DC etc.) of utilizable input power source etc.

The power supply modules 110, 120 receive the power supplied from theinput power source 101. The power supply modules 130, 140 receive thepower supplied from the input power source 102. The input power sourceincludes AC or DC, for example, AC 200 volts.

The power-source supply lines 112, 122, 132, 142 supply output currentsfrom the power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 to the modules insidethe chassis 100, respectively. The voltage of the power source supplylines 112, 122, 132, 142 is utilizable to the respective modules, forexample, DC 12 volts.

The server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 are a module for implementing acalculation process and are provided with power-saving control units161, 171, 181, 191 and controllers 162, 172, 182, 192, respectively.

The power-saving control units 161, 171, 181, 191 are provided withpower saving functions for controlling the power-consumption upper-limitvalues of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190, respectively.

The controllers 162, 172, 182, 192 hold operating-mode setting data on apower-source redundancy and power-source non-redundancy and theidentification data of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190,respectively.

Here, the operating mode means that the maximum-power consumption forthe respective server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 is defined. Thepower-saving control units 161, 171, 181, 191 control the powerconsumptions of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190, respectively, insuch a way that the power becomes equal to or less than themaximum-power consumption in the operating mode on the power-sourceredundancy in a de-asserted condition of the output-current excessnotification signal. The power-saving control units 161, 171, 181, 191control the power consumptions of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190,respectively, in such a way that the power becomes equal to or less thanthe maximum-power consumption in the operating mode on the power-sourcenon-redundancy in the de-asserted condition of the output-current excessnotification signal.

A specific example for the power saving function includes a method ofcontrolling the power consumption of the server blades 160, 170, 180,190 by controlling an operating frequency of a CPU or DIMM. In thisembodiment, three types of the operating modes are defined, that is, theoperating mode is set to A, B and C in descending order of themaximum-power consumption (for example, the maximum-powerconsumption=300 W on the operating mode A, the maximum-powerconsumption=270 W on the operating mode B and the maximum-powerconsumption=240 W on the operating mode C). The maximum-powerconsumption on the operating mode A is set to the maximum-powerconsumption of the server blade at a time when the power-saving controlis not implemented by the power-saving control unit (for example, themaximum-power consumption=300 W when the power-saving control is notimplemented).

In this embodiment, the operating mode for reducing the maximum-powerconsumption of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 by the power-savingcontrol units 161, 171, 181, 191 is set to two types, the operating modeB and operating mode C. The type in this embodiment is not limited, butthe operating mode for reducing the power-consumption may be one or twotypes even more than that. In this embodiment, the maximum-powerconsumption in the operating mode on the power-source redundancy is setto be greater than that in the operating mode on the power sourcenon-redundancy (for example, the maximum-power consumption=300 W in theoperating mode A as an operating mode on the power-source redundancy,and the maximum-power consumption=240 W in the operating mode C as anoperating mode on the power source non-redundancy).

The identification data of server blade identifies a difference of theconfiguration inside the server blade, such as the number of CPU andDIMM mounted on the server blade.

The other modules 155, 157 do not have the power-saving controlmechanism, such as power-saving control units 161, 171, 181, 191, forexample. Specifically, the other modules include an I/O module such as aLAN switch, fiber channel switch, etc. and a fan module for cooling therespective modules inside the chassis 100. The other modules 155, 157also are provided with controllers 156, 158 therein, respectively.

The controllers 156, 158 hold the identification data of the othermodules 155, 157, respectively. The identification data of the othermodules 155, 157 identify a difference of the LAN switch, fiber channelswitch, etc., and the difference of detailed specifications (forexample, the LAN switch has differences in the utilizable number of LANports, link rate, etc).

The management module 150 is connected with the controllers 114, 124,134, 144 arranged inside the power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140,respectively, via a management bus 151. The management module 150 isalso connected with the controllers 156, 158 arranged inside the othermodules 155, 157, respectively, via a management bus 153. The managementmodule 150 is further connected with the controllers 162, 172, 182, 192arranged inside the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190, respectively, viaa management bus 152.

The mid-plane 154 is a multilayer board for electrically and mutuallyconnecting with the power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140, serverblades 160, 170, 180, 190, the other modules 155, 157 and the managementmodule 150. The mid-plane 154 is provided with electrical wirings forcoupling the output-current excess notification signals 113, 123, 133,143, the power source supply lines 112, 122, 132, 142 and the managementbuses 151, 152, 153.

In this embodiment, the output-current excess notification signals 113,123, 133, 143 are coupled electrically with each other by wiring on theboard of the mid-plane 154 and coupled to the respective power-savingcontrol units 161, 171, 181, 191. However, the mid-plane 154 may have anelectrically coupled structure such that one or more signals among theoutput-current excess notification signals 113, 123, 133, 143 areasserted to assert the power-saving control units 161, 171, 181, 191.

For example, an IC etc. operable of logical OR may be mounted on themid-plane 154 to implement the logical OR of the output-current excessnotification signals 113, 123, 133, 143. Alternatively, animplementation method may also be employed such that the output-currentexcess notification signal 113 is coupled electrically to the serverblades 160, 170, 180, 190, the output-current excess notification signal123 to the server blades 160, 170, 180 and 190, the output-currentexcess notification signal 133 to the server blades 160, 170, 180 and190, and the output-current excess notification signal 143 to the serverblades 160, 170, 180 and 190.

The power-saving control units 161, 171, 181, 191 operate the serverblades 160, 170, 180, 190, respectively, in the operating mode on thepower-source redundancy, when all of the output-current excessnotification signals 113, 123, 133, 143 are set in the de-assertedcondition. The power-saving control units 161, 171, 181, 191 operate theserver blades 160, 170, 180, 190, respectively, in the operating mode onthe power source non-redundancy, when one or more output-current excessnotification signals 113, 123, 133, 143 are asserted.

In addition, regarding the electrical connection between the modules,one multilayer board as the mid-plane 154 is used in this embodiment,which is not limited to the embodiment. A plurality of multilayerboards, cables, etc. may also be used to connect with the modules.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram representing an inside of the currentmonitor 111. The current monitors 121, 131, 141, other than the currentmonitor 111, also take the same configuration as represented in FIG. 2.

A power source processing unit 115 receives the power supplied from theinput power source 101. The power source processing unit 115 convertsthe supplied AC into DC to then adjust the DC voltage to a voltageutilizable to the respective modules inside the chassis 100 andoutputted to the power source supply line 112, when the input-powersource 101 is the AC power source. The power source processing unit 115adjusts the supplied DC voltage of the DC power supply source to autilizable voltage to the respective modules inside the chassis 100 tothen outputted to the power source supply line 112, when the input powersource 101 is the DC power source.

A current monitor unit 201 measures an output current value flowing intothe power source supply line 112.

A threshold-value hold unit 203 receives and holds a threshold valueIref_110 for comparing with the output current value measured by thecurrent monitor unit 201, from the controller 114 outside the currentmonitor 111 (subsequently, the threshold values to be used in the powersupply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 are set to Iref_110, Iref_120,Iref_130 and Iref_140, respectively). Normally, the threshold valuesIref_110, Iref_120, Iref_130 and Iref_140 are set so as to be0<threshold value≦rating output<maximum output current value of powersupply module. Here, the maximum output current value of the powersupply module is a maximum current value which can be outputted from thepower supply module without dropping the output voltage while with apossibility that smoking, heating up, ignition and failure occur.

A comparing unit 202 compares the measured output current value with thethreshold value Iref_110.

A signal notification unit 204 asserts the output-current excessnotification signal 113 when output current value>Iref_110 is satisfied.

FIG. 3 represents a variation of the supply power and power consumption,in which a vertical axis indicates the supply power or powerconsumption.

A supply power 301 is a summation Ws of the supply power when the inputpower sources 101 and 102 are normal (on power-source redundancy). Thesupply power 301 is also a summation of the supply power to the powersupply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 on the rating output.

A supply power 302 is a summation Ws_ac of the supply power when onlythe input-power source 101 is normal (on power source non-redundancy).

In this embodiment, the rating outputs of the power supply modules 110,120, 130, 140 are set to all equivalent. Therefore, the supply power(Ws_ac) 302 becomes the half of the supply power (Ws) 301. Theabove-mentioned description is not limited to the embodiment, the powercapping control is applicable to the embodiment even when the ratingoutputs of the power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 are notequivalent. For example, we consider a case in which the summation ofsupply power of power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 received fromthe input power source 101 on the rating output is smaller than that ofthe supply power of power supply modules 130, 140 received from theinput power source 102 on the rating output. In this case, the summationof the supply power of power supply modules 110, 120 received from theinput power source 101 on the rating output is compared with that of thesupply power of power supply modules 130, 140 received from the inputpower source 102 on the rating output, and a smaller summation should beset to that of the supply power on the rating output.

A power consumption 303 is Wn_160+Wn_170+Wn_180+Wn_190+Wa when the powerconsumption of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 in the operatingmode on the power-source redundancy is set to Wn_160, Wn_170, Wn_180,Wn_190 and the summation of power consumption of the other modules 155,157 and the management module is set to Wa, in the case where the inputpower sources 101, 102 are normal (on power-source redundancy). Inaddition, it is required that the operating mode of the server blades160, 170, 180, 190 on the power-source redundancy is set such that arelation, power consumption 303≦supply power 301, is satisfied, in thisembodiment.

A power consumption 304 is Wp_160+Wp_170+Wp_180+Wp_190+Wa when the powerconsumption of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 in the operatingmode on the power source non-redundancy is set toWp_160+Wp_170+Wp_180+Wp_190, respectively, in the case where the supplyof the input power source 102 is shutdown and only the input-powersource 101 is normal (on power source non-redundancy). It is requiredthat the power capping of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 isimplemented such that a relation, power consumption 304≦supply power302, is satisfied, in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 represents a configuration diagram of the management module 150.

A communication control unit 405 acquires the identification data of thepower supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 from the controllers 114, 124,134, 144 arranged respectively therein through the management bus 151.

The communication control unit 405 also acquires the identification dataof the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 from the controllers 162, 172,182, 192 arranged respectively therein through the management bus 152.

The communication control unit 405 further acquires the identificationdata of the other modules 155, 157 from the controllers 156, 158arranged respectively therein through the management bus 153.

The management module is one unit in this embodiment, however, it may beconfigured that a plurality of management modules are mounted inside thechassis 100, or one or more are mounted outside thereof.

In the plurality of management modules, they are divided into the activeone and standby one. The active management module implements theabove-mentioned operation. The standby management module implements thecontinuous operation in place of the active management module when itcannot continue the operation due to abnormality, failure occurrence,maintenance, etc.

Management buses 151, 152, 153 are provided all for the number ofmanagement modules when the management module is a plurality of units. Amanagement bus is also added to between the active management modulesand standby management modules. In consequence of adding the bus, thecommunication control unit inside one management module can acquire theidentification data from the communication control unit of the othermanagement modules.

The management buses 151, 152, 153 are independent with each other inthis embodiment. However, the embodiment is not limited to theabove-mentioned buses. The management buses 151, 152, 153 may be madeinto a single common bus. It may also be configured that the managementbuses 151, 152, 153 are divided into further plurality of numbers.

A user interface 403 outputs various data received as inputs to a datahold unit 401. Here, the various data received as inputs include data ofthe target sever blades to power (server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 inthis embodiment), data of the power-source redundancy configurationindicating whether the input power source redundancy or power supplymodule redundancy is used (input power source redundancy is used, inthis embodiment), and data of the target server blades to power in theoperating mode on the power-source redundancy and of the power sourcenon-redundancy. The user interface 403 receives the identification dataof the server blades, the power supply modules, the other modules, andtable data of the specification for the pieces of identification datainputted by a user to then output to a power table 404. An example ofthe user interface 403 includes a KVM (Keyboard/Video/Mouse), aconnection of console, etc.

The data hold unit 401 holds the identification data of the serverblades 160, 170, 180, 190 of the power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140and of the other modules 155, 157. The data hold unit 401 also holds thedata of target server blades to power of the power-source redundancyconfiguration and of the target server blades to power in the operatingmode on the power-source redundancy and the power source non-redundancy.The data hold unit 401 further holds a calculated result in a processingunit 402. The data hold unit 401 further holds own identification dataof the management module 150. Here, the identification data of themanagement module 150 identify differences in the specification and theinner configuration of the management module. In addition, themanagement module is one unit in this embodiment, however, the data holdunit 401 may also hold the identification data of the other managementmodules when the management module is a plurality of units.

The power table 404 holds, as a table, the identification data of theserver blades, the identification data of the power supply modules, theidentification data of the other modules and the specification for thepieces of identification data.

FIG. 5 represents a specific example of the power table 404. The powertable 404 holds corresponding data in the identification data 501 to themodule classification 502.

The module classification 502 includes a classification of “serverblade”, “power supply module” and “other modules”, in which each of theclassified identification data is set to a data unit of one item (oneline). In this embodiment, the classification called “server blade” isdivided into three items, “A0001”, “A0002” and “A0003”.

In this embodiment, the controllers 162, 172, 182, 192 arrangedrespectively inside the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 hold theidentification data of either “A0001”, “A0002” or “A0003” of the “serverblade” in the module classification 502. The controllers 114, 124, 134,144 arranged respectively inside the power supply modules 110, 120, 130,140 hold the identification data of either “B0001” or “B0002” of the“power supply module” in the module classification 502. The controllers156, 158 arranged respectively inside the other modules 155, 157 holdthe identification data of either “C0001”, “C0002” or “C0003” of the“other modules” in the module classification 502.

The power table 404 holds a maximum power consumption 504 on theoperating mode A, a maximum power consumption 505 on the operating modeB and a maximum power consumption 506 on the operating mode C,corresponding to the respective data in the identification data 501,when the module classification 502 is the server blade.

The power table 404 also holds a rating output-supply power 507 as thesupply power on the rating output for every type of the power supplymodules corresponding to the respective data in the identification data501 and a threshold value 508, when the module classification 502 is thepower supply module.

The power table 404 further holds a maximum power consumption 503corresponding to the respective data in the identification data 501,when the module classification 502 is the other modules.

Instead that the user interface 403 output to the power table 404 therespective data including the identification data 501, the moduleclassification 502, the maximum power consumption 503, the maximum powerconsumption 504 on the operating mode A, the maximum power consumption505 on the operating mode B, the maximum power consumption 506 on theoperating mode C, the rating output-supply power 507 and the thresholdvalue 508, the power table 404 may hold the respective data in advance.

The processing unit 402 acquires, from the data hold unit 401, theidentification data of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190, settingdata in the operating mode on the power-source redundancy and settingdata in the operating mode on the power source non-redundancy. Theprocessing unit 402 also acquires, from the power table 404, the maximumpower consumption in the operating mode on the power-source redundancy,on the basis of the identification data and the setting data in theoperating mode on the power-source redundancy. In this embodiment, thepower consumption is selected from either the maximum power consumption504 on the operating mode A, the maximum power consumption 505 on theoperating mode B or the maximum power consumption 506 on the operatingmode C on the basis of the setting data in the operating mode on thepower-source redundancy. For example, when the acquired identificationdata of the server blade 160 from the data hold unit 401 by theprocessing unit 402 is “A0001” and the setting data, in the operatingmode on the power-source redundancy, acquired from the data hold unit401 by the processing unit 402 is “operating mode C”, the processingunit 402 acquires, from the power table 404, data so called “240 W” as apower consumption in the maximum power consumption 506 on the operatingmode C corresponding to the identification data “A0001”.

The maximum power consumptions acquired here in the setting data of theserver blades 160, 170, 180, 190 in the operating mode on thepower-source redundancy are Wn_160, Wn_170, Wn_180 and Wn_190,respectively.

The processing unit 402 acquires, from the power table 404, the maximumpower consumption corresponding to the setting data in the operatingmode on the power source non-redundancy, corresponding to theidentification data.

The maximum power consumptions acquired here of the server blades 160,170, 180, 190 corresponding to the setting data in the operating mode onthe power source non-redundancy are determined to be Wp_160, Wp_170,Wp_180 and Wp_190, respectively.

The processing unit 402 acquires the identification data of the othermodules 155, 157 and of the management module 150 from the data holdunit 401. The processing unit 402 also acquires the maximum powerconsumption 503 corresponding to the identification data of the othermodules 155, 157 and corresponding to the identification data of themanagement module 150 from the power table 404.

The processing unit 402 calculates a summation of the maximum powerconsumption of the other modules 155, 157 and of the management module150 to acquire a summation Wa of the power consumption.

The processing unit 402 acquires the identification data of the powersupply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 from the data hold unit 401. Theprocessing unit 402 also acquires the rating output-supply power 507corresponding to the identification data of the power supply modules110, 120, 130, 140 from the power table 404. The processing unit 402then calculates the summation of the rating output-supply power 507 ofthe power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 14 to acquire a summation Ws ofthe supply power to the power supply modules on the power-sourceredundancy.

The processing unit 402 calculates a summation of the ratingoutput-supply power of the power supply modules 110, 120 connected withthe input power source 101 and a summation of the rating output-supplypower of the power supply modules 130, 140 receiving a power from theinput power source 102. The processing unit 402 then compares thesummation of the rating output-power supply of the power supply modules110, 120 with that of the rating output-power supply of the power supplymodules 130, 140. From the compared result of the summations, a smallersummation is set to Ws_ac, and either one of the summations is set toWs_ac when the both summations are equivalent. In this embodiment, theprocessing unit 402 sets the summation of the rating output-power supplyof the power supply modules 110, 120 connected with the input powersource 101 to Ws_ac.

The processing unit 402 compares the rating output-supply power of thepower supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 to then set the summation of therating output-supply power of the power supply modules to Ws_dc, exceptfor the power supply module having greatest rating output-supply power.When the rating output-supply powers of the power supply modules 110,120, 130, 140 are all equivalent, the processing unit 402 calculates asWs_dc the summation of the rating output-supply power of arbitrary threepower supply modules among four. For example, in this embodiment, theprocessing unit 402 calculates as Ws_dc the summation of the ratingoutput-supply power of the power supply modules 110, 120, 130.

The processing unit 402 also acquires the threshold value 508corresponding to the identification data of the power supply modules110, 120, 130, 140 from the power table 404. The processing unit 402then sets the threshold value 508 of the power supply modules 110, 120,130, 140 acquired from the power table 404 to the threshold valuesIref_110, Ire_120, Iref_130, Iref_140, respectively.

The communication control unit 405 notifies Iref_110 to the controller114, Iref_120 to the controller 124, Iref_130 to the controller 134, andIref_140 to the controller 144 via the management bus 151.

The processing unit 402 judges the following three conditions, that is,judges whether a condition 1 or a condition 2 is satisfied and thecondition 1 or a condition 3 is also satisfied.(Wn_160+Wn_170+Wn_180+Wn_190+Wa)<Ws  Condition 1:(Wp_160+Wp_170+Wp_180+Wp_190+Wa)<Ws_ac  Condition 2:(Wp_160+Wp_170+Wp_180+Wp_190+Wa)<Ws_dc  Condition 3:

When the condition 1 is satisfied, it is shown that a relation, powerconsumption<supply power, is satisfied in the input power sourceredundancy and the power supply module redundancy configuration on thepower-source redundancy.

When the condition 2 is satisfied, it is shown that a relation, powerconsumption<supply power, is satisfied in the input power sourceredundancy configuration on the power source non-redundancy.

When the condition 3 is satisfied, it is shown that a relation, powerconsumption<supply power, is satisfied in the power supply moduleredundancy configuration on the power source non-redundancy.

When either the condition 1 and the condition 2 are satisfied or thecondition 1 and the condition 3 are satisfied, the communication controlunit 405 implements a power-on instruction for the controllers 162, 172,182, 192 arranged inside the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190,respectively, via the management bus 152.

In addition, the above-mentioned conditions 1 to 3 of judgmentimplemented by the processing unit 402 are used for the configuration ofthis embodiment, that is, two units of server blades, two input powersources, and four power supply modules.

When the server blade is configured by n units, there are two or moreinput power sources and there are two or more power supply modules, theconditions 1, 2 and 3 are described below.

In the condition 1, when the power consumptions of a first to n-thserver blades in the operating mode on the power-source redundancy areset to Wn_1 to Wn_n, respectively, the following expression (1) isgiven.

$\begin{matrix}{{{Wa} + {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{n}\left\{ {Wn\_ k} \right\}}} < {Ws}} & {{Expression}\mspace{14mu}(1)}\end{matrix}$

In the condition 2, the power consumptions of the first to n-th serverblades in the operating mode on the power source non-redundancy are setto Wp_1 to Wp_n, respectively. Among the input power sources in theplurality of circuits, there is an input-power source whose summation ofthe rating output-supply power of the power supply modules receiving thepower from the input power source becomes greatest. When the summationof the rating output-supply power of the power supply modules is set toWs_m1, the following expression (2) is given.

$\begin{matrix}{{{Wa} + {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{n}\left\{ {Wp\_ k} \right\}}} < {{Ws} - {Ws\_ m1}}} & {{Expression}\mspace{14mu}(2)}\end{matrix}$

In the condition 3, when the rating output-supply power of the powersupply module having the greatest rating output among the plurality ofpower supply modules is set to Ws_max, the following expression (3) isgiven.

$\begin{matrix}{{{Wa} + {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{n}\left\{ {Wp\_ k} \right\}}} < {{Ws} - {Ws\_ max}}} & {{Expression}\mspace{14mu}(3)}\end{matrix}$

FIG. 6 represents a control flowchart of the management module 150 whenthe power source of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 are turned on.

At a step S101, the user interface 403 outputs power table data to thepower table 404. The power table 404 then holds the power table data. Inthis embodiment, the user interface 403 outputs the power table data tothe power table 404, however, the power table 404 may hold the powertable data in advance.

At a step S102, the communication control unit 405 acquires theidentification data of the power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140, theidentification data of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190, theidentification data of the other modules 155, 157 and the managementmodule 150 through the management buses 151, 152, 153 and output to thedata hold unit 401.

The data hold unit 401 holds the identification data supplied from thecommunication control unit 405.

At a step S103, the processing unit 402 acquires the identification dataof the power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 from the data hold unit401. The processing unit 402 then acquires data of the threshold valuescorresponding to the identification data of the power supply modules110, 120, 130, 140 from the power table 404 and output to thecommunication control unit 405. The communication control unit 405notifies the threshold value Iref_110 to the controller 114, Iref_120 tothe controller 124, Iref_130 to the controller 134, and Iref_140 to thecontroller 144.

At a step S104, the user interface 403 outputs the power-sourceredundancy configuration data supplied from the user to the data holdunit 401. The data hold unit 401 holds the power-source redundancyconfiguration data supplied from the user interface 403.

At a step S105, the user interface 403 outputs data of the target serverblades 160, 170, 180, 190 to power, supplied from the user, to the datahold unit 401. The data hold unit 401 holds the data of the targetserver blades 160, 170, 180, 190 to power.

At a step S106, the user interface 403 outputs the data of the targetserver blades 160, 170, 180, 190 to power, supplied from the user, inthe operating mode on the power-source redundancy and non-redundancy, tothe data hold unit 401. The data hold unit 401 then holds the data ofthe target server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 to power, supplied from theuser interface 403, in the operating mode on the power-source redundancyand non-redundancy. The communication control unit 405 outputs the datain the operating mode on the power-source redundancy and non-redundancyto the controllers 162, 172, 182, 192 through the management bus 152.The controllers 162, 172, 182, 192 hold the data and output to thepower-saving control units.

At a step S107, the processing unit 402 acquires the data of thepower-source redundancy configuration from the data hold unit 401.

If the power-source redundancy configuration acquired by the processingunit 402 is the input power source redundancy at the step S107, theprocessing unit 402 acquires data from the power table 404 correspondingto the maximum power consumption Wn_160, Wn_170, Wn_180, Wn_190corresponding to the operating mode on the power-source redundancy. Theprocessing unit 402 acquires the data from the power table 404corresponding to the maximum power consumption Wp_160, Wp_170, Wp_180,Wp_190 corresponding to the operating mode on the power sourcenon-redundancy. The processing unit 402 then acquires the maximum powerconsumption of the management module 150 and the other modules 155, 157from the power table 404 to calculate the summation Wa. The processingunit 402 also acquires the rating output-supply power of the powersupply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 from the power table 404 to calculatethe summation Ws. The processing unit 402 further calculates thesummation Ws_ac on the basis of the rating output-supply power of thepower supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140.

At a step S109, the processing unit 402 determines whether the condition1, (Wn_160+Wn_170+Wn_180+Wn_190+Wa)<Ws, is satisfied, the condition 2,(Wp_160+Wp_170+Wp_180+Wp_190+Wa)<Ws_ac, is satisfied, and the condition1 and the condition 2 are also satisfied.

If the condition 1 is satisfied at the step S109, the relation, (powerconsumption)<(supply power), is confirmed in the operating mode settingon the power-source redundancy, in the input power source redundancyconfiguration. If the condition 2 is satisfied, the relation, (powerconsumption)<(supply power), is confirmed in the operating mode settingon the power source non-redundancy, in the input power source redundancyconfiguration. If the condition 1 and the condition 2 are satisfied, thesupply-power shortage is not present on the power-source redundancy andpower-source non-redundancy, so that the operation can be implemented inthe case where the data processing system is applied to the input powersource redundancy configuration.

At a step S112, the communication control unit 405 outputs theinstruction of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 to power to thecontrollers 162, 172, 182, 192, respectively, inside the target serverblades 160, 170, 180, 190 to power through the management bus 152. Thecontrollers 162, 172, 182, 192 turn on the power source of the severblades 160, 170, 180, 190, respectively.

When either the condition 1 or the condition 2 is not satisfied at thestep S109, the relation of either, (power consumption)<(supply power),in the operating mode setting on the power-source redundancy or that inthe operating mode setting on the power-source non-redundancy is notsatisfied in the input power source redundancy configuration. This meansthat the supply power becomes short on the power-source redundancy orpower-source non-redundancy when using the data processing system. Forthis reason, the process returns to the operation at the step S105, andit is required to change the number of units of the target server blades160, 170, 180, 190 to power and/or the data of target server blades 160,170, 180, 190 to power in the operating mode on the power-sourceredundancy and power source non-redundancy at the step S106.

At the step S107, if the power-source redundancy configuration isdetermined as the power supply module redundancy in the processing unit402, the processing unit 402 acquires the data corresponding to themaximum power consumption Wn_160, Wn_170, Wn_180, Wn_190 correspondingto the operating mode on the power-source redundancy from the powertable 404, and also acquires the data corresponding to the maximum powerconsumption Wp_160, Wp_170, Wp_180, W0_190 corresponding to theoperating mode on the power source non-redundancy from the power table404, at a step S110. The processing unit 402 also acquires the maximumpower consumption of the management module 150 and the other modules155, 157 from the power table 404 to calculate the summation Wa, andfurther acquires the rating output-supply power of the power supplymodules 110, 120, 130, 140 from the power table 404 to calculate thesummation Ws. The processing unit 402 then calculates the summationWs_dc on the basis of the rating output-supply power of the power supplymodules 110, 120, 130, 140.

At a step S111, the processing unit 402 determines whether the condition1, (Wn_160+Wn_170+Wn_180+Wn_190+Wa)<Ws, is satisfied, the condition 3,(Wp_160+Wp_170+Wp_180+Wp_190+Wa)<Ws_dc, is satisfied, and the condition1 and the condition 3 are satisfied.

If the condition 1 and the condition 3 are satisfied at the step S111,the communication control unit 405 turns on the power source to thetarget server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 via the management bus 152 atthe step S112.

If either the condition 1 or the condition 3 is not satisfied at thestep S111, the process returns to the step S105, and it is required tochange the number of units of the target server blades 160, 170, 180,190 to power and/or the data of the target server blades 160, 170, 180,190 to power in the operating mode on the power-source redundancy andpower source non-redundancy at the step S106.

FIG. 7 represents a control flowchart of the current monitor and thepower-saving control unit when occurring a power supply shutdown of theinput-power source 102, after the power source of the server blades 160,170, 180, 190 is turned on by the management module 150. FIG. 7represents an operating example for the power supply module 110 and theserver blade 160, but the other power supply modules 120, 130, 140 andthe server blades 170, 180, 190 also use this operating flowchart.

At a step S201, the current monitor 201 inside the power supply module110 measures an output current value of the power supply line 112 andoutput to the comparing unit 202.

At a step S202, the comparing unit 201 compares the output current valueon the power supply line 112 supplied from the current monitor unit 201with the threshold value Iref_110 of the power supply module 110supplied from the threshold hold unit 203.

If a relation, (output current value of power source supply line112)≦Iref_110, is satisfied at the step S202, the comparing unit 202notifies a compared result to a signal notification unit 204, and theprocess returns to the step S201.

If the relation, (output current value of power source supply line112)>Iref_110, is satisfied at the step S202, the comparing unit 202notifies the compared result to the signal notification unit 204.

At a step S203, when the signal notification unit 204 receives from thecomparing unit 202 the compared result indicating that the condition issatisfied, that is, receives a notification indicating that the resultis, (output current value of power source supply line 112)>Iref_110, theoutput current excess notification signal 113 is asserted.

At a step S204, the power-saving control unit 161 inside the serverblade 160 receives the assertion of output current excess notificationsignal 113. The power-saving control unit 161 received the assertion ofoutput current excess notification signal 113 implements a power-savingcontrol for the power consumption of the server blade 160 in accordancewith the operation mode setting. In consequence, the power consumptionof the server blade 160 becomes equal to or less than the maximum powerconsumption Wp_160.

The operating flowchart represented in FIG. 7 is also applicable to thepower supply modules 120, 130, 140 and the server blades 170, 180, 190.The operating outline of entire power capping in this embodiment willdescribed below.

The power from the input power source 102 is shutdown, and the output ofthe power supply modules 130, 140 is also shutdown. Therefore, therelation, (output current value of power source supply line112)>Iref_110, is given to the power supply module 110.

The relation, (output current value of power source supply line122)>Iref_120 is also given to the power supply module 120.

The output current excess notification signal is asserted by the signalnotification units arranged respectively inside the power supply modules110, 120.

All of the power-saving control units 161, 171, 181, 191 receive theassertion of output current excessive notification signals (113, 123),respectively.

The power-saving control units 161, 171, 181, 191 cap the powerconsumptions of server blades 160, 170, 180, 190 to an equal to or lessthan the maximum power consumption Wp_160, Wp_170, Wp_180, Wp_190,respectively. The relation, (output current value of power source supplyline)≦(current threshold value), is satisfied in the power supplymodules 110, 120, so that the power supply can be continued normally. Inconsequence, the server blade can operate continuously.

Assumingly, when the process at the steps S109, S111 is absent in thisembodiment, it is not secured that the summation(Wp_160+Wp_170+Wp_180+Wp_190+Wa) of the power consumption of the serverblades 160, 170, 180, 190, the other modules 155, 157 and the managementmodule 150 becomes smaller than the summation Ws_ac and Ws_dc of thesupply power on the power source non-redundancy, after capping the powerat the step S204.

In fact, it is secured that the power consumption of the server blades160, 170, 180, 190 on the implementation of the power capping at thestep S204 becomes certainly smaller than the summation Ws_ac and Ws_dc,in response to the confirmation of various conditions at the steps S109,S111 in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, a trigger of implementing the power capping is thatthe output current of power supply modules 110, 120 exceeds thethreshold value set in advance. The supply power at this time is thepower immediately after changed from the supply power 301 to the supplypower 302 in FIG. 3. The power consumption at this time lies in thepower-source non-redundancy, but still lies in the power consumption303, therefore the power capping is not implemented yet.

FIG. 8 represents a configuration diagram of the case where aconventionally known system is realized by this embodiment, in relationto the implementation of capping the power of the server blade inresponse to an interruption occurrence in the power supply module. Thereference number of elements represented in FIG. 1 is appended to thesame elements as that in FIG. 8. In addition, the configuration insidethe management module 150 is the same as that in FIG. 2.

As represented in FIG. 8, voltage monitors 811, 821, 831, 841 arearranged inside the power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140,respectively. The voltage monitors 811, 821, 831, 841 acquire and holdthe output voltage data of power source supply lines 113, 123, 133, 143,respectively. Temperature sensors 812, 822, 832, 842 are arranged insidethe power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140, respectively. Thetemperature sensors 812, 822, 832, 842 acquire and hold temperature datainside the power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140, respectively. Thecontrollers 114, 124, 134, 144 receive the output voltage data from thevoltage monitors 811, 821, 831, 841, respectively. The controllers 114,124, 134, 144 also receive the temperature data from the temperaturesensors 812, 822, 832, 842, respectively. The controllers 114, 124, 134,144 further acquire and hold periodically the temperature data and theoutput voltage data of power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140,respectively.

The communication control unit 405 inside the management module 150receives the temperature data and the voltage data of power supplymodules 110, 120, 130, 140 from the controllers 114, 124, 134, 144through the management bus 151. The data hold unit 401 receives andholds the temperature data of power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140and the output voltage data of the power source supply lines 113, 123,133, 143 from the communication control unit 405. The data hold unit 401holds a temperature threshold value and voltage threshold data inadvance so that the failure and abnormal condition are determined for110, 120, 130, 140.

The processing unit 402 receives the temperature data, voltage data,temperature threshold value and the voltage threshold value data ofpower supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 from the data hold unit 401. Theprocessing unit 402 compares the temperature data with the voltagethreshold value of the power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140. If therespective temperature data of power supply modules 110, 120, 130 or 140are greater than the threshold value, it is judged that a failureoccurred for the corresponding power supply modules 110, 120, 130 or 140the interruption. The processing unit 402 also compares the voltage datawith the voltage threshold value data on the power source supply linesof power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140. If the respective voltagedata on the power source supply lines of power supply modules 110, 120,130, 140 is smaller than the voltage threshold value, it is judged thata failure occurred for the corresponding power supply module 110, 120,130 or 140.

From the above-mentioned determination of the voltage data andtemperature data, the communication control unit 405 outputs animplementation instruction of power capping to the controllers 162, 172,182, 192 arranged inside the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190,respectively, through the management bus 152 if it is determined that afailure occurred for either one of the power supply modules 110, 120,130, 140. The controllers 162, 172, 182, 192 output the implementationinstruction of power capping to the power-saving control units 161, 171,181, 191, respectively. The power-saving control units 161, 171, 181,191 cap the power consumption of the server blades 160, 170, 180, 190,respectively.

However, in the conventional system, the presence or absence ofexceeding the threshold value is set to a criterion of the failure onthe basis of the comparison of the temperature data of the power supplymodule and the voltage data on the power source supply line with thepreviously held temperature threshold value and voltage threshold valuedata. The presence and absence of the failure in the power supplymodules 110, 120, 130, 140 are targeted to trigger the implementation ofcapping the power, therefore, that the actual relation between thesupply power and the power consumption is not considered. Inconsequence, there is a problem that the power capping is implemented inaccordance with a rule that exceeds the threshold value, even though thesupply power is not actually short against the power consumption.

In response, the system using the invention is provided with thecomparing unit 203 inside the power supply modules 110, 120, 130, 140 sothat it is realized that the difference between the supply power and thepower consumption is monitored as a function. The comparing unit 202 isdisposed inside the each power supply module, therefore, it is possibleto measure directly the supply power (output power) of the power supplymodule for the server blade. The power capping is implemented when therelation, (power consumption)>(supply power), is satisfied, but it isnot implemented when the relation, (power consumption)≦(supply power),is satisfied in the power supply module, even though the voltage on thepower source supply line becomes small. Therefore, the system using theinvention solves the problem such that power capping is implemented tothereby reduce a capability even when the supply power is not shortagainst the power consumption in the conventional system.

It should be further understood by those skilled in the art thatalthough the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of theinvention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A data processing system comprising aplurality of server blades, a plurality of input power sources, aplurality of power supply modules configured to convert a power suppliedfrom said plurality of input power sources into a voltage to output tosaid plurality of server blades, and a management module connected withsaid plurality of server blades and said plurality of power supplymodules via buses, wherein each of said plurality of power supplymodules includes a power-source supply line connected electrically withsaid plurality of server blades and one of said plurality of input powersources, a current measurement unit configured to measure anoutput-current value supplied to said plurality of server blades on saidpower source supply line, and a comparing unit configured to comparesaid measured output current value with a predetermined threshold value,and wherein when the comparing unit of one power supply module of saidplurality of power supply modules determines said output current valueof said one power supply module is greater than said predeterminedthreshold value, a signal notification unit of said one power supplymodule is configured to output an output-current excess signal to saidplurality of server blades, and each of said plurality of server bladesis programmed to control a power consumption of said each server bladeto an equal to or smaller than a predetermined power consumption valuein response to said output-current excess signal.
 2. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said plurality of input power sourcesinclude a first power source and a second power source, and wherein saidplurality of power supply modules are configured as a first plurality ofpower supply modules corresponding to said first power source and asecond plurality of power supply modules corresponding to said secondpower source.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein when saidfirst power source and said first plurality of power supply modulescorresponding to said first power source are failed, said secondplurality of power supply modules corresponding to said second powersource inputs power to said plurality of server blades without saidfirst power source and said first plurality of power supply modules. 4.The system according to claim 1, wherein said threshold value is set viasaid management module by user.
 5. A data processing method foroperating a system comprising a plurality of server blades, a pluralityof input power sources, a plurality of power supply modules configuredto convert a power supplied from said plurality of input power sourcesinto a voltage to output to said plurality of server blades, and amanagement module connected with said plurality of server blades andsaid power supply modules via buses, wherein each of said pluralitypower supply modules includes a power-source supply line connectedelectrically with said plurality of server blades and one of saidplurality of input power sources, the method comprising: measuring anoutput-current value supplied to said plurality of server blades on saidpower source supply line; comparing said measured output current valuewith a predetermined threshold value; outputting an output-currentexcess signal to said plurality of server blades when one power supplymodule of said plurality power supply modules determines that saidoutput-current value of said one power supply module is greater thansaid predetermined threshold value; and controlling, by each of saidplurality of server blades in response to said output-current excesssignal, a power consumption of said each server blade to be equal to orsmaller than a predetermined power consumption value.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 5, wherein said plurality of input power sourcesinclude a first power source and a second power source, wherein saidplurality of power supply modules are configured as a first plurality ofpower supply modules corresponding to said first power source and asecond plurality of power supply modules corresponding to said secondpower source.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein when saidfirst power source and said first plurality of power supply modulescorresponding to said first power source are failed, said secondplurality of power supply modules corresponding to said second powersource inputs power to said plurality of server blades without saidfirst power source and said first plurality of power supply modules. 8.The method according to claim 5, wherein said threshold value is set viasaid management module by user.